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Summer swimmers can cool off on the North Carolina coast without worry. A study by the Natural Resources Defense Council found the waters of the NC beaches is relatively free of pollution and worrisome bacteria.

The Tar Heel state ranked third out of 30 states for beach water quality.

The study is based on monitoring by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, tests that are done at least every other week looking for bacteria and harmful algae.

NRDC found that swimmers on North Carolina lost fewer beach days (91) to poor water quality in 2012 than in any of the previous seven seasons.